Humbled!

When I first signed up for the Herman Memorial Ironman Texas, I assumed I would finish it with no problems. I never assumed I would win or fill any of the Kona slots for my age group. I simply believed I would be able to finish in the 17 hour time limit. During my first Ironman everything was going to plan until I was unable to make the 60 mile cut off on the bike due to a nagging shoulder injury. I simply couldn't ride without my shoulder aching. Riding in the aero bars ached. Riding on the brake hoods ached. Only when I stopped to stand did the aching seem to subside. My strategy became to endure the ride and make it to the marathon. A plan that seemed to be working until I got to the 60 mile cut off and was informed that I had failed to make the 1:40 P.M. cutoff time.

A funny thing happened on the way to the 60 mile cut off. Right as riders got to the special bike need bags they passed over timing mats. My assumption was that the timing mats signified the cut off spot. It was close to the cut off time but I had beat it by 10 minutes. I stopped to enjoy some fuel and rest for my shoulder. I called my wife.

"You've got to pick it up" she told me.

A truck pulled up and the driver asked me if I was quitting. Hell no I wasn't quitting. He started talking to someone on a walkie talkie and asked for my number. I gave him my number and waited for him to finish his conversation with the person on the other end.

"Am I good", I asked when he put down his walkie talkie.

"You're good" he replied.

I finished my flat coke and wrap and threw my trash away. Back on the bike, I readied my mind to grind out the next 50 miles. It barely seemed that I was getting started than I was already at the next aid station. I saw a penalty tent and noticed someone coming into the road to flag me down. I didn't think I had been assessed any penalties.

"What's up?" I asked as I stepped down onto to the ground

"I'm sorry but you didn't make the bike cut off " he replied.

"What are you talking about? It wasn't the special needs bags spot back there"? I hastily asked.

"No, it's actually right there where the penalty tent is, and the cut off time was about 10-15 minutes ago" was his answer.

So, that's how my first Ironman finished. With me wondering why I assumed that passing over the timing mats meant I had made the cut off. Why didn't someone tell me I had 2 more miles to go to make the cut off. So, I walk away from this experience humbled and determined to make it next year. So that's what this blog is about, getting back to Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas and finishing.